Acclaimed underground hip-hop artist Mos Def plays Julius, the leader of the radical rap group the Mau Maus, who has just changed his name to Big Black
Africa. Mos Def is considered one of the best of the 90s new school rappers,
with Afrocentric stylings that appeal to both mind and soul. Born Dante
Beze, he began rhyming at the age of nine and formed his first group, Urban
Thermo Dynamics (UTD), with his brother and sister. Invited to join the
Native Tongues family founded by Afrika Bambaataa and including A Tribe
Called Quest and De La Soul among its members, Mos Def agreed and appeared
on the fourth De La Soul LP, Stakes Is High. He also contributed a verse on
the second Bush Babees album, then released his first single "The Universal
Magnetic," for the seminal rap independent label Rawkus. A Tribe Called
Quest's Q-Tip appeared on his second single, "Body Rock." Mos Def released
his debut album (with Talib Kweli), Black Star, in September 1998 and a
second album, Black on Both Sides, in the fall of 1999.
Mos Def made his screen debut in the comedy Marlowe (as Dante Beze), and has
appeared on television in "Cosby Mysteries" and "You Take The Kids." He
also has been seen in a popular VISA commercial.
Acclaimed underground hip-hop artist Mos Def plays Julius, the leader of the radical rap group the Mau Maus, who has just changed his name to Big Black
Africa. Mos Def is considered one of the best of the 90s new school rappers,
with Afrocentric stylings that appeal to both mind and soul. Born Dante
Beze, he began rhyming at the age of nine and formed his first group, Urban
Thermo Dynamics (UTD), with his brother and sister. Invited to join the
Native Tongues family founded by Afrika Bambaataa and including A Tribe
Called Quest and De La Soul among its members, Mos Def agreed and appeared
on the fourth De La Soul LP, Stakes Is High. He also contributed a verse on
the second Bush Babees album, then released his first single "The Universal
Magnetic," for the seminal rap independent label Rawkus. A Tribe Called
Quest's Q-Tip appeared on his second single, "Body Rock." Mos Def released
his debut album (with Talib Kweli), Black Star, in September 1998 and a
second album, Black on Both Sides, in the fall of 1999.
